What is MOD TOD video format?

MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”. A MOD file contains a set of instruments in the form of samples, a number of patterns indicating how and when the samples are to be played.

MOD and TOD are informal names of tapeless video formats used by JVC (MOD and TOD), Panasonic (MOD only) and Canon (MOD only) in some models of digital camcorders. Format names correspond to extensions of video files. Neither JVC nor Panasonic, who pioneered the format, explained meaning of the file extensions, and the formats were never given an official name. MOD is used exclusively for standard definition video files, while TOD is used for high definition files. Both MOD and TOD are file-based formats that are stored on a random-access media.

Standard definition (SD) video is stored in MPEG program stream container files with MOD extension; in most other systems these files have extension MPG or MPEG. High definition (HD) video is stored in MPEG transport stream container files with TOD extension; in most other systems these files have M2T extension.
MOD video can be viewed on a computer with a player that is capable of reproducing MPEG-2 video. This video can be easily authored for watching on a DVD player, like WinX DVD Player, without recompression, because it is fully compliant with DVD-video standard. And TOD format is comparable with AVCHD, but cannot be directly played on consumer video equipment. Media files must be packaged into distribution formats like HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc, using authoring software.

JVC was the only supporter of TOD format. In 2008 JVC released several hybrid TOD/AVCHD consumer models, and some AVCHD only models. Consumer high definition camcorders offered by JVC since 2009 record only in AVCHD format. Professional JVC tapeless camcorders, introduced in 2009, use XDCAM EX format, licensed from Sony. Like TOD, XDCAM EX employs MPEG-2 HD codec. Unlike TOD, XDCAM EX is widely used in professional video. As of 2009, MOD format is still being used in standard definition camcorders manufactured by JVC, Panasonic and Canon.